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Neuromuscular diseases affect the lower motor neurons of the nervous system, which may include the muscles, nerves, or the junction between muscles and nerves (known as a neuromuscular junction).
A familiar group of neuromuscular disorders is known as muscular dystrophies, but there are many other kinds of neuromuscular disorders. The Muscular Dystrophy Clinic at the Children’s Hospital Brain Care Institute treats all types of neuromuscular disorders. This clinic provides a multidisciplinary setting for the diagnostic evaluation and follow-up care of infants and children with known or suspected neuromuscular disorders. The Muscular Dystrophy Association supports the program, and services are provided to patients without cost.
There are many different of pediatric neuromuscular disease types. These may include inherited neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, and muscular dystrophies such as Duchenne, congenital myasthenic syndromes, and congenital myopathies.
Since the mid-1980s, science has made many breakthroughs in understanding the genetic causes of neuromuscular diseases, as well as their inheritance patterns. Through genetic testing and counseling, patients and their families can better understand how disorders are inherited and the roles that genes play in certain diseases.
Some neuromuscular diseases are caused by an immune imbalance. They may have markers in the blood that can be tested, or they may require other tests, such as an electromyogram (EMG), to confirm the diagnosis.
Children with neuromuscular disease symptoms may have:
Although some of these symptoms may be due to life-threatening diseases, others do not affect life expectancy and may be treatable.
Find out how we diagnose neuromuscular diseases in children at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Children’s Hospital’s Brain Care Institute is at the frontier of medical research and clinical studies. The Division of Child Neurology receives more than $1 million in federal corporate and foundation research funding each year. Research projects and clinical trials from UPMC Children's Hospital's neuromuscular specialists include:
Referrals are required from primary care physicians or other Children's Hospital specialty services.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
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